EP0675600A1 - Reflective mode ultrasonic touch sensitive switch - Google Patents
Reflective mode ultrasonic touch sensitive switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0675600A1 EP0675600A1 EP95301025A EP95301025A EP0675600A1 EP 0675600 A1 EP0675600 A1 EP 0675600A1 EP 95301025 A EP95301025 A EP 95301025A EP 95301025 A EP95301025 A EP 95301025A EP 0675600 A1 EP0675600 A1 EP 0675600A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- piezoelectric element
- frequency
- substrate
- signal
- electrodes
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/043—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means using propagating acoustic waves
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
- H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
- H03K17/96—Touch switches
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
- H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
- H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
- H03K2217/96—Touch switches
- H03K2217/96003—Touch switches using acoustic waves, e.g. ultrasound
- H03K2217/96007—Touch switches using acoustic waves, e.g. ultrasound by reflection
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
- H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
- H03K2217/96—Touch switches
- H03K2217/96003—Touch switches using acoustic waves, e.g. ultrasound
- H03K2217/96011—Touch switches using acoustic waves, e.g. ultrasound with propagation, SAW or BAW
Definitions
- This invention relates to touch sensitive switches and, more particularly, to such a switch which operates in accordance with reflective mode ultrasonic principles.
- Touch sensitive screens are typically utilized in conjunction with computer generated displays.
- a display screen has displayed thereon different regions each corresponding to a different possible operator response.
- the operator touches his or her finger to that region of the screen which corresponds to the desired response.
- Circuitry senses the touch and provides to the computer control system an indication as to which particular region has been touched. Examples of different types of prior art touch responsive systems and some of the problems associated therewith are set forth below.
- a touch sensitive switch comprising a substrate having a touch region on a first surface and a piezoelectric element secured to the substrate on a second opposed parallel surface of the substrate across the substrate from the touch region.
- the piezoelectric element is driven by a drive signal and is so configured that an ultrasonic wave generated by the piezoelectric element is transmitted into the substrate to set up an ultrasonic wave within the substrate which is reflected back and forth into the substrate at both surfaces thereof.
- Finger contact at the touch region changes the reflectivity at that first surface, and influences the impedance of the transducer assembly (the piezoelectric element together with the substrate). By examining the resultant signal on the electrodes, this impedance variation is detected.
- the drive signal is a frequency modulated signal and detection of the impedance variation is effected by a frequency modulation to amplitude modulation conversion.
- the piezoelectric element comprises piezoelectric polymer film.
- a second piezoelectric element is secured to the first piezoelectric element in superposed relation. Finger contact at the touch region changes the reflectivity at the first surface and, accordingly, the strength of the reflected wave.
- the second piezoelectric element acts as a receiver and the output from the second piezoelectric element is evaluated to determine whether the touch region has been contacted.
- the drive signal is a frequency modulated signal having a center frequency greater than the resonant frequency of the first piezoelectric element and being a frequency substrate together with the first and second piezoelectric elements.
- the modulation of the drive signal is a fixed frequency of sufficient value to insure that the drive signal has a frequency component equal to the resonant frequency, and a peak detector is provided for use in evaluating the output from the second piezoelectric element.
- a piezoelectric element 10 preferably a piezoelectric polymer material such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polyvinylidene fluoridetrifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) in film form, has electrodes 12 and 14 on opposed surfaces.
- the electrode 12 is bonded to the second surface 20 of the substrate 16 across the substrate 16 from the touch region 22.
- the touch region 22 can be defined as part of a computer generated display, in which case the substrate 16, the piezoelectric element 10 and the electrodes 12 and 14 will be transparent, or the touch region 22 can be defined by indicia on the surface 18.
- the wave dies down since there is some loss at each reflection as well as propagation loss. Since the reflected waves are converted to electric current in the piezoelectric element 10, the impedance of the piezoelectric element 10 is influenced by the reflection.
- a high frequency drive voltage is applied to the electrodes 12 and 14, many waves propagate back and forth through the substrate 16. At certain frequencies, the phases of all the waves going toward the surface 18 agree and the phases of all the waves going toward the surface 20 also agree. This produces very sharp resonant peaks which may be called “substrate resonance”. This is different from "transducer resonance" which has a much broader peak.
- the substrate resonance is characterized by a series of peaks on the impedance-frequency curve, as illustrated in Figure 3.
- the sharpness of the substrate resonance depends on propagation losses and reflectivity at the surfaces. If the propagation loss is negligibly small, the resonant peak mostly depends on the reflectivity at the surfaces of the substrate. For example, if propagation loss is zero and the reflectivity is 100%, the resonant peak height is infinite. If the reflectivity is reduced to 90%, the resonant peak deceases to a finite value. This change of the resonant peak is not 10%, but instead is very much larger (i.e., from infinity to a finite value). This means that the substrate resonance has a function of amplification for reflectivity changes. Lower propagation loss induces more amplification for a change in surface reflectivity.
- Figure 2 illustrates the situation where the operator's finger 24 engages the touch region 22.
- contact by the finger 24 lowers the reflectivity at the surface 18 by absorbing some of the ultrasonic energy.
- This changes the multiple reflections back to the piezoelectric element 10 which in turn changes the induced electric current in the piezoelectric element 10, thereby changing the effective impedance of the piezoelectric element 10.
- V p the sound velocity in the piezoelectric material
- T p the thickness of the piezoelectric material.
- the effective acoustic impedence becomes very low, resembling a substrate of infinitely thick rubber or water.
- polymer piezoelectric material is mounted on rubber (or placed on water)
- ultrasonic waves are generated in a very broad frequency band. Therefore, this transducer has the capability to excite ultrasonic waves in a very broad ban outside of the regular transducer resonance bandwidth, only when the substrate is resonated.
- V g 5,440 m/sec.
- T g 3.2 mm.
- exp(-Wt g /V g Q m )] where R is the reflectivity at the surface of the substrate, w is the angular frequency (i.e., w 2 ⁇ f) and Q m is the mechanical quality factor of the substrate.
- Q m 694.
- R (pV-p g V g )/(Pv+p g V g ) where p g is the density of the substrate material, and p and V are the density and sound velocity, respectively, of the material contacted at the substrate surface.
- p g 2.42x103Kg/m3.
- the present invention makes use of those positive slopes, as illustrated in Figure 4.
- Figure 4 shows the impedance-frequency curve from the transducer assembly without finger contact in the region of one of the substrate resonances as the solid line 32.
- the broken line 34 is the impedance-frequency curve in the same frequency region with finger contact, as illustrated in Figure 2.
- the curve 36 is the frequency-time curve for a transducer drive signal having a center frequency substantially centered at the mid-frequency point of the positive slope region of the curve 32 which is frequency modulated by a fixed frequency signal.
- the impedance-frequency curve due to finger contact is shown by the broken line 34, there results the amplitude modulated signal shown by the broken line curve 40.
- the resultant amplitude modulated signal has a lower amplitude than the case where there is no finger contact.
- FIG. 5 schematically illustrates basic circuitry 41 operating in accordance with the principles of this invention, as discussed above.
- the frequency modulated drive signal is generated by the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 42 having an output 44 coupled to the electrode 12 through the resistor 46 and an input 48 coupled to the output 50 of a modulation signal oscillator 52.
- the center frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator 42 is chosen to be substantially at the center of one of the positive slope regions of the impedance-frequency curve and is preferably in the range between one half the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric element 10 and five times that resonant frequency.
- the substrate 16 was glass of thickness 3.2mm and the piezoelectric element 10 was a 200 ⁇ thick film of PVDF-TrFE.
- the center frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator 42 was 3.9MHz and the modulation signal oscillator 52 operated at 1KHz.
- Conversion of the frequency modulated drive signal on the lead 54 is converted to an amplitude modulated signal, as discussed above with reference to Figure 4, and is then demodulated by the network comprising the piezoelectric element 10 with its electrodes 12 and 14, the diode 56 having one terminal connected to the electrode 10, the resistor 58 connected across the diode 56, the capacitor 60 coupled between the other terminal of the diode 56 and the electrode 14, and the resistor 62 connected across the capacitor 60.
- the demodulated amplitude modulated signal appears on the lead 64, which is an input to the discriminating means 66.
- the discriminating means 66 evaluates the level of the demodulated amplitude modulated signal on the lead 64 to determine whether or not finger contact has occurred, finger contact resulting in the level of the demodulated amplitude modulated signal being below a predetermined threshold value. When finger contact is detected, an output signal is applied to the terminal 68.
- the acoustic velocity of glass, used as the substrate 16, is temperature dependent, so that the resonant frequencies given in equation (2) are also temperature dependent.
- the center frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator 42 may drift, due in part to temperature changes and in part to variations in its supply voltage.
- the modulated frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator 42 should always be within the region of positive slope of the impedance-frequency curve.
- Figure 6 shows a first embodiment of compensating circuitry appended to the circuitry shown in Figure 5.
- the demodulated amplitude modulated signal on the lead 64 includes a DC signal component which is proportional to the impedance value of the transducer.
- the low pass filter 70 has its input connected to the lead 64 and its output on the lead 72 only contains this DC component.
- the DC component on the lead 72 is applied as one input to the comparator 74, whose other input has a reference voltage applied thereto.
- the output of the comparator 74 is applied to the input of the voltage controlled oscillator 42 through the resistor 76 to provide a bias voltage to bring the center frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator 42 to the appropriate value.
- the capacitor 78 isolates the oscillator 52 from the DC bias.
- Figure 7 illustrates improved compensating circuitry, utilizing a microprocessor 80, appended to the circuitry of Figure 5.
- Figures 8A and 8B show the output voltage on the lead 64 of the FM to AM conversion circuit 41 ( Figure 5) and, when considered in conjunction with Figure 7, will assist in explaining the operation of this compensating circuitry.
- the demodulated amplitude modulated signal on the lead 64 is applied as an input to the low pass filter 70, the phase comparator 82, and the amplitude comparator 84.
- the other input to the phase comparator 82 and the amplitude comparator 84 is the input signal to the voltage controlled oscillator 42, without the DC component thereof which is filtered by the capacitor 86.
- the outputs of the low pass filter 70, the phase comparator 82, and the amplitude comparator 84 are applied as inputs to the microprocessor 80, which processes the signals and causes the DC voltage controller 88 to provide the appropriate bias to the voltage controlled oscillator 42.
- the microprocessor 80 controls the VCO 42 through the DC voltage controller 88 to lower the center frequency 33.
- the center frequency 35 when the center frequency 35 is outside of the steep region (desirable region) , the center frequency 35 has to be lowered much more.
- the phase of the output signal on the lead 64 is compared with the phase of the input signal to the VCO 42 using the phase compensator 82. As shown in Figure 8A, the phase of the signal 37 for the center frequency being within the steep region is opposite to the phase signals 39-1 and 39-2 for the center frequency being outside the steep region.
- the modulation frequency is increased and the output signal on the lead 64 is compared with the input signal to the VCO 42.
- a small dip 57 appears at the top of the waveform 59.
- a small peak 61 appears at the bottom of the waveform 63.
- Another embodiment of this invention creates an improved ultrasonic touch sensitive switch utilizing a double layer transducer.
- the variation of the transducer impedance due to multiple reflections is generally small because the current in the capacitive impedance is much larger than the current induced by multiple reflections, and the detection of the impedance variation due to the finger contact is not easily detected.
- application of a continuous sinusoidal current to the transducer and measuring the voltage across the terminals of the transducer require substraction of larger voltage by the larger capacitive impedance in order to detect small signals due to reflections.
- the driving voltage to detect the reflections appears on the receiving transducer but is smaller in magnitude and is almost the same amplitude as that of the reflectional signal.
- the directly induced signal and the reflectional signal are in-phase or out-of-phase depending on the driving frequency and the propagation length.
- FIG. 9 shows the transducer assembly according to the present invention.
- a second piezoelectric element 30, preferably also PVDF or PVDF-TrFE, is provided in superposed relation to the first piezoelectric element 10.
- the piezoelectric element 30 shares the electrode 14 with the piezoelectric element 10 and also has its own electrode 32 on the opposite side from the electrode 14.
- the common electrode 14 is grounded, as shown.
- the piezoelectric element 10 functions as an ultrasonic transmitter and the piezoelectric element 30 functions as an ultrasonic receiver.
- the present invention can also operate with the piezoelectric element 30 as the transmitter and the piezoelectric element 10 as the receiver.
- the piezoelectric element 10 When a drive signal is applied to the piezoelectric element 10 across the electrodes 12 and 14, the piezoelectric element 10 generates an ultrasonic wave which is radiated into the substrate 16 as well as into the piezoelectric element 30.
- the piezoelectric element 30 is sensitive to both the directly generated wave and the reflected wave.
- the phase relationship between the generated wave and the reflected wave varies in accordance with the frequency to produce an output from the piezoelectric element 30 across the electrodes 14 and 32 which also varies with frequency. This output has resonant peaks at a series of resonant frequencies.
- Figure 10 shows the output from the piezoelectric element 30 as a function of frequency, calculated in accordance with Mason's model.
- this calculation was based upon the substrate 16 being 3mm thick glass and each of the piezoelectric elements 10 and 30 being 200 ⁇ thick PVDF-TrFE film.
- the periodicity of the frequency response shown in Figure 10 is slightly irregular because the resonance of the transducer and its harmonic resonance influences the resonance in the substrate.
- the voltage output varies from zero to peak values as the frequency varies.
- the peak values are significantly influenced by finger contact to the touch region 22. Such contact reduces each peak by a factor of 20% to 50%.
- the present invention recognizes this to detect finger touch by detecting the variation of the voltage output at a specified peak frequency.
- the resonant frequency of each section may not be exactly equal because of non-uniform thickness of the substrate, the piezoelectric layer or the bonding layer.
- the output voltage from each transducer is not of equal value because the frequency of the drive signal is not necessarily at a peak because the peak frequency varies from one transducer to another.
- FIG 11A shows a drive signal at a fixed frequency f d and the output voltage versus frequency curve in the region of the frequency f d for four different transducer sections. It is seen that the output voltage varies in dependence upon where the frequency f d is vis-a-vis the frequency at the local resonant peak.
- FIG 12 illustrates a matrix array of touch sensitive switches constructed in accordance with this invention. As shown, there are twenty switches in a matrix array having five rows and four columns.
- the switch array 140 includes a substrate 142, illustratively glass, to which is secured a first layer 144 of piezoelectric film and a second layer 146 of piezoelectric film.
- the layer 144 has on its surface adjacent the substrate 142 five elongated electrode strips 148, 150, 152, 154 and 156, arranged horizontally and parallel to each other. Between the layers 144 and 146 is a grounded common electrode 158.
- the film layer 146 remote from the substrate 142 On the surface of the film layer 146 remote from the substrate 142 are four elongated electrode strips 160, 162, 164 and 166, arranged vertically and parallel to each other.
- the superposed intersections of the horizontal electrode strips 148-156 with the vertical electrode strips 160-166 form a five by four matrix array of switch elements, each corresponding to a defined touch region on the opposite side of the substrate 142.
- the film layers and the electrodes are transparent.
- a commonly used material for transparent electrodes is indium tin oxide. To improve the conductivity of such electrodes, without sacrificing much of their transparency, a mesh metallization of aluminum or silver may be utilized.
- the layer 144 operates as the ultrasonic transmitter and the layer 146 operates as the ultrasonic receiver. Accordingly, drive signals are applied to the electrode strips 148-156 and output voltages are taken from the electrode strips 160-166. As discussed above, it is preferred that the drive signal be in the form of a frequency modulated signal. Accordingly, there is provided a frequency modulated oscillator 170 whose output is applied to a switch bank 172.
- the switch bank 172 includes five selectively controllable switches 172-1, 172-2, 172-3, 172-4 and 172-5, each connected in common at one side to the output of the oscillator 170 and at their other side each to one of the drive electrode strips 148-156. Although shown as mechanical switches, the switches within the switch bank 172 may be electronic switches, such as field effect transistors. Control of the switches within the switch bank 172 is effected by the control circuit 174, as will be described in full detail hereinafter.
- Each of the sense electrode strips 160-166 is connected to the input of a respective amplifier 176, 178, 180, 182, the outputs of which are connected to the inputs of respective peak detector circuits 184, 186, 188, 190.
- the outputs of the peak detector circuits 184-190 are provided as inputs to the control circuit 174.
- the control circuit 174 includes circuitry for comparing the outputs from the peak detectors 184-190. Since, as discussed above, finger contact results in a reduced output voltage, comparison of the outputs of the peak detectors 184-190 allows a determination of whether there has been finger contact, and if so, along with vertical column. Knowing which vertical column has the finger contact and knowing which horizontal row has the drive signal applied thereto, enables the control circuit 174 to provide an output at 192 indicative of a touch and identifying which switch element has responded to the touch.
- the control circuit 174 functions to close the switches 172-1, 172-2, 172-3, 172-4, 172-5 one at a time in a predetermined sequence. With one of the switches closed, the drive signal from the oscillator 170 is applied to one of the drive electrode strips 148-156. The peaks of the output voltages from the receive electrode strips 160-166 are compared. If one of the peak output voltages is less than a predetermined fraction of the other output voltages, this indicates that a touch has occurred. Knowing the horizontal and vertical addresses (i.e., the identities of the horizontal row and vertical column electrode strips) of the touched crosspoint, the control circuit 174 can provide this information at its output 192.
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Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to touch sensitive switches and, more particularly, to such a switch which operates in accordance with reflective mode ultrasonic principles.
- Touch sensitive screens are typically utilized in conjunction with computer generated displays. In such a system, a display screen has displayed thereon different regions each corresponding to a different possible operator response. The operator touches his or her finger to that region of the screen which corresponds to the desired response. Circuitry senses the touch and provides to the computer control system an indication as to which particular region has been touched. Examples of different types of prior art touch responsive systems and some of the problems associated therewith are set forth below.
- · A conductive membrane is arranged very close to a large glass surface coated by a transparent conductive layer. Regions of the membrane correspond to particular switches. The membrane is easily damaged by the operator's fingernail or some other sharp edged item. There is also a reliability problem with the electrical contact of such a membrane.
- · A surface acoustic wave is transmitted from the peripheral area of a large glass plate. A problem with this approach is propagation loss due to surface contamination which can arise from dust, human skin oils, spittle, etc., which adhere to the plate.
- · An array of light emitting diodes and photodetectors is placed in opposed relationship across the surface of a screen. This suffers from contamination on the optical devices, which arises from the same origins as described above for surface acoustic waves.
- · A transparent piezoelectric force sensing array is placed over the display screen. This array can be damaged by the operator's fingernail or some other sharp edged item. In addition, the surface electrodes wear out over time. Another disadvantage is that sensitivity of such a sensor is high when tapped, but is low for a gradually increasing force.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a touch sensitive switch which is immune to the aforedescribed problems.
- It is another object of this invention to provide such a touch sensitive switch which is immune to the aforedescribed problems.
- The foregoing and additional objects are attained in accordance with the principles of this invention by providing a touch sensitive switch comprising a substrate having a touch region on a first surface and a piezoelectric element secured to the substrate on a second opposed parallel surface of the substrate across the substrate from the touch region. The piezoelectric element is driven by a drive signal and is so configured that an ultrasonic wave generated by the piezoelectric element is transmitted into the substrate to set up an ultrasonic wave within the substrate which is reflected back and forth into the substrate at both surfaces thereof. Finger contact at the touch region changes the reflectivity at that first surface, and influences the impedance of the transducer assembly (the piezoelectric element together with the substrate). By examining the resultant signal on the electrodes, this impedance variation is detected.
- In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the drive signal is a frequency modulated signal and detection of the impedance variation is effected by a frequency modulation to amplitude modulation conversion.
- In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the piezoelectric element comprises piezoelectric polymer film.
- A second piezoelectric element is secured to the first piezoelectric element in superposed relation. Finger contact at the touch region changes the reflectivity at the first surface and, accordingly, the strength of the reflected wave. The second piezoelectric element acts as a receiver and the output from the second piezoelectric element is evaluated to determine whether the touch region has been contacted.
- In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the drive signal is a frequency modulated signal having a center frequency greater than the resonant frequency of the first piezoelectric element and being a frequency substrate together with the first and second piezoelectric elements. The modulation of the drive signal is a fixed frequency of sufficient value to insure that the drive signal has a frequency component equal to the resonant frequency, and a peak detector is provided for use in evaluating the output from the second piezoelectric element.
- Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like elements thereof are identified by the same reference numerals and wherein:
- FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate schematically the principles of operation of the touch sensitive switch according to this invention;
- FIGURE 3 illustrates the impedance-frequency curve of the transducer assembly shown in Figure 1;
- FIGURE 4 illustrates conversion of the frequency modulated drive signal into an amplitude modulated signal according to this invention;
- FIGURE 5 is a block diagram showing illustrative circuitry according to this invention for responding to a touch;
- FIGURE 6 is a block diagram showing the illustrative circuitry of FIGURE 5 with a first embodiment of compensating circuitry appended thereto;
- FIGURE 7 is a block diagram showing the illustrative circuitry of FIGURE 5 with a second embodiment of compensating circuitry appended thereto; and
- FIGURES 8A and 8B illustrate the output voltages of the FM to AM conversion circuit including the touch sensitive device when the drive signal center frequency drifts and are useful for understanding the operation of the compensating circuitry.
- FIGURE 9 illustrates a double layer transducer assembly according to the present invention.
- FIGURE 10 is a curve of output voltage as a function of frequency for a specific example of the assembly shown in FIGURE 9, calculated using Mason's model;
- FIGURES 11A and 11B show differences in the output voltages for fixed frequency drive signals and frequency modulated drive signals, respectively; and
- FIGURE 12 shows a matrix array of touch sensitive switches constructed in accordance with this invention.
- In accordance with this invention, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a
piezoelectric element 10, preferably a piezoelectric polymer material such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polyvinylidene fluoridetrifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) in film form, haselectrodes substrate 16, illustratively glass, has first and second opposedparallel surfaces first surface 18 of thesubstrate 16 there is adefined touch region 22, preferably of a size approximately equal to the contact area of an operator'sfinger 24. Theelectrode 12 is bonded to thesecond surface 20 of thesubstrate 16 across thesubstrate 16 from thetouch region 22. Thetouch region 22 can be defined as part of a computer generated display, in which case thesubstrate 16, thepiezoelectric element 10 and theelectrodes touch region 22 can be defined by indicia on thesurface 18. - When a high frequency voltage is applied across the
electrodes piezoelectric element 10 induces a vibration across the thickness of thepiezoelectric element 10. When the frequency of this varying electric field is between the one-half of the resonant frequency fo of thepiezoelectric element 10 and five times that resonant frequency, an ultrasonic wave is more efficiently radiated into thesubstrate 16 and propagates toward thesurface 18, as indicated by thearrow 26. This given range is intended to be instructional and in no way is intended to be limiting. This wave is reflected at thesurface 18 and propagates back toward thepiezoelectric element 10, as indicated by thearrow 28. When this wave reaches thesurface 20, it is again reflected, as indicated by thearrow 30. Eventually, the wave dies down since there is some loss at each reflection as well as propagation loss. Since the reflected waves are converted to electric current in thepiezoelectric element 10, the impedance of thepiezoelectric element 10 is influenced by the reflection. When a high frequency drive voltage is applied to theelectrodes substrate 16. At certain frequencies, the phases of all the waves going toward thesurface 18 agree and the phases of all the waves going toward thesurface 20 also agree. This produces very sharp resonant peaks which may be called "substrate resonance". This is different from "transducer resonance" which has a much broader peak. The substrate resonance is characterized by a series of peaks on the impedance-frequency curve, as illustrated in Figure 3. - The sharpness of the substrate resonance depends on propagation losses and reflectivity at the surfaces. If the propagation loss is negligibly small, the resonant peak mostly depends on the reflectivity at the surfaces of the substrate. For example, if propagation loss is zero and the reflectivity is 100%, the resonant peak height is infinite. If the reflectivity is reduced to 90%, the resonant peak deceases to a finite value. This change of the resonant peak is not 10%, but instead is very much larger (i.e., from infinity to a finite value). This means that the substrate resonance has a function of amplification for reflectivity changes. Lower propagation loss induces more amplification for a change in surface reflectivity. Since the propagation loss (dB/cm) is proportional to frequency, a thicker piezoelectric element transducer with lower resonant frequency is more desirable. (As stated above, the wave excitation is most efficient between 0.5 fo and 5 fo, where fo is the resonant frequency of the transducer.)
- Figure 2 illustrates the situation where the operator's
finger 24 engages thetouch region 22. In this case, instead of an air boundary at thesurface 18 which provides high reflectivity to the waves within thesubstrate 16, contact by thefinger 24 lowers the reflectivity at thesurface 18 by absorbing some of the ultrasonic energy. This changes the multiple reflections back to thepiezoelectric element 10 which in turn changes the induced electric current in thepiezoelectric element 10, thereby changing the effective impedance of thepiezoelectric element 10. - The foregoing principles may be described quantitatively as follows. The resonant frequency (fo) of the
piezoelectric element 10 bonded on an infinitely thick, hard and heavy material is given by:
where Vp is the sound velocity in the piezoelectric material and Tp is the thickness of the piezoelectric material. When the piezoelectric material is PVDF-TrFE co-polymer, Vp=2.3x10³m/sec. This resonance is caused by the mass of the piezoelectric material and its elastic property. Therefore, the vibration becomes stronger at around fo with width around ±0.1fo. However, in the present case, the substrate thickness is finite and resonates at a very broad frequency range. At these substrate resonant frequencies, the effective acoustic impedence becomes very low, resembling a substrate of infinitely thick rubber or water. When polymer piezoelectric material is mounted on rubber (or placed on water), it is known that ultrasonic waves are generated in a very broad frequency band. Therefore, this transducer has the capability to excite ultrasonic waves in a very broad ban outside of the regular transducer resonance bandwidth, only when the substrate is resonated. -
- The peak height of the resonance is proportional to
where R is the reflectivity at the surface of the substrate, w is the angular frequency (i.e., w = 2πf) and Qm is the mechanical quality factor of the substrate. When the substrate is glass, Qm=694.
where pg is the density of the substrate material, and p and V are the density and sound velocity, respectively, of the material contacted at the substrate surface. When the substrate is glass, then pg=2.42x10³Kg/m³. When there is air at the surface of the substrate, then p=1.2Kg/m³ and V=344m/sec. For human muscle contacting the substrate surface, p=1.05x10³Kg/m³ and V=1.540m/sec. Accordingly, |R| is 1.0 for air and 0.78 for human muscle, assuming 100% surface contact without fingerprint grooves. However, based on the top area of the ridges of a finger print which actually contacts the substrate surface, |R| is estimated to be 0.97. - Thus, without finger contact, |R|=1 and according to equation (3), the height h of the piezoelectrically generated current due to the reflection (Ip) is 48.7 at a frequency of 3.9MHz. When a finger contacts the substrate surface, |R|=0.97 and h becomes 20.0. This small change in the value of the reflectivity from 1 to 0.97 produces a large change of h from 48.7 to 20.0, which is a 59% reduction. The above-mentioned reflection current Ip is added to the capacitive current which is much larger and 90° out of phase.
- Experimental results confirm the foregoing. Specifically, when the drive frequency to the transducer shown in Figure 1 was varied and the capacitance and resistance across the
electrodes - The present invention makes use of those positive slopes, as illustrated in Figure 4.
- Figure 4 shows the impedance-frequency curve from the transducer assembly without finger contact in the region of one of the substrate resonances as the
solid line 32. Thebroken line 34 is the impedance-frequency curve in the same frequency region with finger contact, as illustrated in Figure 2. Thecurve 36 is the frequency-time curve for a transducer drive signal having a center frequency substantially centered at the mid-frequency point of the positive slope region of thecurve 32 which is frequency modulated by a fixed frequency signal. When the drive signal characterized by thecurve 36 is applied to theelectrodes solid line curve 38. When the impedance-frequency curve due to finger contact is shown by thebroken line 34, there results the amplitude modulated signal shown by thebroken line curve 40. Thus, since finger contact reduces the slope of the frequency-impedance curve, the resultant amplitude modulated signal has a lower amplitude than the case where there is no finger contact. - Figure 5 schematically illustrates
basic circuitry 41 operating in accordance with the principles of this invention, as discussed above. The frequency modulated drive signal is generated by the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 42 having anoutput 44 coupled to theelectrode 12 through theresistor 46 and aninput 48 coupled to theoutput 50 of amodulation signal oscillator 52. The center frequency of the voltage controlledoscillator 42 is chosen to be substantially at the center of one of the positive slope regions of the impedance-frequency curve and is preferably in the range between one half the resonant frequency of thepiezoelectric element 10 and five times that resonant frequency. In one example, thesubstrate 16 was glass of thickness 3.2mm and thepiezoelectric element 10 was a 200µ thick film of PVDF-TrFE. The center frequency of the voltage controlledoscillator 42 was 3.9MHz and themodulation signal oscillator 52 operated at 1KHz. - Conversion of the frequency modulated drive signal on the
lead 54 is converted to an amplitude modulated signal, as discussed above with reference to Figure 4, and is then demodulated by the network comprising thepiezoelectric element 10 with itselectrodes diode 56 having one terminal connected to theelectrode 10, theresistor 58 connected across thediode 56, thecapacitor 60 coupled between the other terminal of thediode 56 and theelectrode 14, and theresistor 62 connected across thecapacitor 60. The demodulated amplitude modulated signal appears on thelead 64, which is an input to the discriminating means 66. The discriminating means 66 evaluates the level of the demodulated amplitude modulated signal on thelead 64 to determine whether or not finger contact has occurred, finger contact resulting in the level of the demodulated amplitude modulated signal being below a predetermined threshold value. When finger contact is detected, an output signal is applied to the terminal 68. - As is known, the acoustic velocity of glass, used as the
substrate 16, is temperature dependent, so that the resonant frequencies given in equation (2) are also temperature dependent. Further, the center frequency of the voltage controlledoscillator 42 may drift, due in part to temperature changes and in part to variations in its supply voltage. For the present invention to function at its best, the modulated frequency of the voltage controlledoscillator 42 should always be within the region of positive slope of the impedance-frequency curve. Figure 6 shows a first embodiment of compensating circuitry appended to the circuitry shown in Figure 5. The demodulated amplitude modulated signal on thelead 64 includes a DC signal component which is proportional to the impedance value of the transducer. Thus, thelow pass filter 70 has its input connected to thelead 64 and its output on thelead 72 only contains this DC component. The DC component on thelead 72 is applied as one input to thecomparator 74, whose other input has a reference voltage applied thereto. The output of thecomparator 74 is applied to the input of the voltage controlledoscillator 42 through theresistor 76 to provide a bias voltage to bring the center frequency of the voltage controlledoscillator 42 to the appropriate value. Thecapacitor 78 isolates theoscillator 52 from the DC bias. - Figure 7 illustrates improved compensating circuitry, utilizing a
microprocessor 80, appended to the circuitry of Figure 5. Figures 8A and 8B show the output voltage on thelead 64 of the FM to AM conversion circuit 41 (Figure 5) and, when considered in conjunction with Figure 7, will assist in explaining the operation of this compensating circuitry. Thus, as shown in Figure 7, the demodulated amplitude modulated signal on thelead 64 is applied as an input to thelow pass filter 70, thephase comparator 82, and theamplitude comparator 84. The other input to thephase comparator 82 and theamplitude comparator 84 is the input signal to the voltage controlledoscillator 42, without the DC component thereof which is filtered by thecapacitor 86. The outputs of thelow pass filter 70, thephase comparator 82, and theamplitude comparator 84 are applied as inputs to themicroprocessor 80, which processes the signals and causes theDC voltage controller 88 to provide the appropriate bias to the voltage controlledoscillator 42. As shown in Figure 8A, when thecenter frequency 33 of the voltage controlledoscillator 42 slightly drifts to the higher side from thedesirable center frequency 33 of the positive slope region of impedance-frequency curve 32, the DC component of the output signal on thelead 64 is fed to themicroprocessor 80 through thelow pass filter 70. Themicroprocessor 80 controls theVCO 42 through theDC voltage controller 88 to lower thecenter frequency 33. However, when thecenter frequency 35 is outside of the steep region (desirable region) , thecenter frequency 35 has to be lowered much more. To detect whether the center frequency is outside or within the steep region, the phase of the output signal on thelead 64 is compared with the phase of the input signal to theVCO 42 using thephase compensator 82. As shown in Figure 8A, the phase of thesignal 37 for the center frequency being within the steep region is opposite to the phase signals 39-1 and 39-2 for the center frequency being outside the steep region. - In order to detect whether the center frequency is above or below the steep region, the modulation frequency is increased and the output signal on the
lead 64 is compared with the input signal to theVCO 42. As shown in Figure 8B, when the center frequency is above the steep region, asmall dip 57 appears at the top of thewaveform 59. On the contrary, when the center frequency is below the steep region, asmall peak 61 appears at the bottom of thewaveform 63. - Another embodiment of this invention creates an improved ultrasonic touch sensitive switch utilizing a double layer transducer. In essence, the variation of the transducer impedance due to multiple reflections is generally small because the current in the capacitive impedance is much larger than the current induced by multiple reflections, and the detection of the impedance variation due to the finger contact is not easily detected. For example, application of a continuous sinusoidal current to the transducer and measuring the voltage across the terminals of the transducer require substraction of larger voltage by the larger capacitive impedance in order to detect small signals due to reflections.
- When the generating transducer and receiving transducers are separated (a double layer structure), the driving voltage to detect the reflections appears on the receiving transducer but is smaller in magnitude and is almost the same amplitude as that of the reflectional signal. The directly induced signal and the reflectional signal are in-phase or out-of-phase depending on the driving frequency and the propagation length.
- Figure 9 shows the transducer assembly according to the present invention. In addition to the
piezoelectric element 10, a secondpiezoelectric element 30, preferably also PVDF or PVDF-TrFE, is provided in superposed relation to the firstpiezoelectric element 10. Thepiezoelectric element 30 shares theelectrode 14 with thepiezoelectric element 10 and also has itsown electrode 32 on the opposite side from theelectrode 14. Thecommon electrode 14 is grounded, as shown. According to the present invention, thepiezoelectric element 10 functions as an ultrasonic transmitter and thepiezoelectric element 30 functions as an ultrasonic receiver. The present invention can also operate with thepiezoelectric element 30 as the transmitter and thepiezoelectric element 10 as the receiver. - When a drive signal is applied to the
piezoelectric element 10 across theelectrodes piezoelectric element 10 generates an ultrasonic wave which is radiated into thesubstrate 16 as well as into thepiezoelectric element 30. Thepiezoelectric element 30 is sensitive to both the directly generated wave and the reflected wave. The phase relationship between the generated wave and the reflected wave varies in accordance with the frequency to produce an output from thepiezoelectric element 30 across theelectrodes piezoelectric element 30 as a function of frequency, calculated in accordance with Mason's model. Specifically, this calculation was based upon thesubstrate 16 being 3mm thick glass and each of thepiezoelectric elements touch region 22. Such contact reduces each peak by a factor of 20% to 50%. The present invention recognizes this to detect finger touch by detecting the variation of the voltage output at a specified peak frequency. - When the aforedescribed touch sensitive switch utilizing a double layer transducer is applied to a touch screen or keypad having an array of touch regions, many transducer sections are utilized. In such a multiple element system, the resonant frequency of each section may not be exactly equal because of non-uniform thickness of the substrate, the piezoelectric layer or the bonding layer. Thus, for a multiple transducer system operating at a predetermined frequency the output voltage from each transducer is not of equal value because the frequency of the drive signal is not necessarily at a peak because the peak frequency varies from one transducer to another. This is illustrated in Figure 11A which shows a drive signal at a fixed frequency fd and the output voltage versus frequency curve in the region of the frequency fd for four different transducer sections. It is seen that the output voltage varies in dependence upon where the frequency fd is vis-a-vis the frequency at the local resonant peak.
- To overcome this problem, it is desirable to utilize a frequency modulated drive signal. As illustrated in Figure 11B, if the frequency deviation of the modulated drive signal (f=fd±Δf) covers a sufficient frequency range that the drive signal has a frequency component equal to the frequency at the local resonant peak, the output signal will always reach the peak. Accordingly, a peak detector can be utilized in determining whether or not there has been a touch.
- Figure 12 illustrates a matrix array of touch sensitive switches constructed in accordance with this invention. As shown, there are twenty switches in a matrix array having five rows and four columns. Thus, the
switch array 140 includes asubstrate 142, illustratively glass, to which is secured afirst layer 144 of piezoelectric film and asecond layer 146 of piezoelectric film. Thelayer 144 has on its surface adjacent thesubstrate 142 five elongated electrode strips 148, 150, 152, 154 and 156, arranged horizontally and parallel to each other. Between thelayers common electrode 158. On the surface of thefilm layer 146 remote from thesubstrate 142 are four elongated electrode strips 160, 162, 164 and 166, arranged vertically and parallel to each other. The superposed intersections of the horizontal electrode strips 148-156 with the vertical electrode strips 160-166 form a five by four matrix array of switch elements, each corresponding to a defined touch region on the opposite side of thesubstrate 142. Preferably, the film layers and the electrodes are transparent. A commonly used material for transparent electrodes is indium tin oxide. To improve the conductivity of such electrodes, without sacrificing much of their transparency, a mesh metallization of aluminum or silver may be utilized. - In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the
layer 144 operates as the ultrasonic transmitter and thelayer 146 operates as the ultrasonic receiver. Accordingly, drive signals are applied to the electrode strips 148-156 and output voltages are taken from the electrode strips 160-166. As discussed above, it is preferred that the drive signal be in the form of a frequency modulated signal. Accordingly, there is provided a frequency modulatedoscillator 170 whose output is applied to aswitch bank 172. Theswitch bank 172 includes five selectively controllable switches 172-1, 172-2, 172-3, 172-4 and 172-5, each connected in common at one side to the output of theoscillator 170 and at their other side each to one of the drive electrode strips 148-156. Although shown as mechanical switches, the switches within theswitch bank 172 may be electronic switches, such as field effect transistors. Control of the switches within theswitch bank 172 is effected by thecontrol circuit 174, as will be described in full detail hereinafter. - Each of the sense electrode strips 160-166 is connected to the input of a
respective amplifier peak detector circuits control circuit 174. Thecontrol circuit 174 includes circuitry for comparing the outputs from the peak detectors 184-190. Since, as discussed above, finger contact results in a reduced output voltage, comparison of the outputs of the peak detectors 184-190 allows a determination of whether there has been finger contact, and if so, along with vertical column. Knowing which vertical column has the finger contact and knowing which horizontal row has the drive signal applied thereto, enables thecontrol circuit 174 to provide an output at 192 indicative of a touch and identifying which switch element has responded to the touch. - In operation, the
control circuit 174 functions to close the switches 172-1, 172-2, 172-3, 172-4, 172-5 one at a time in a predetermined sequence. With one of the switches closed, the drive signal from theoscillator 170 is applied to one of the drive electrode strips 148-156. The peaks of the output voltages from the receive electrode strips 160-166 are compared. If one of the peak output voltages is less than a predetermined fraction of the other output voltages, this indicates that a touch has occurred. Knowing the horizontal and vertical addresses (i.e., the identities of the horizontal row and vertical column electrode strips) of the touched crosspoint, thecontrol circuit 174 can provide this information at itsoutput 192.
Claims (9)
- A reflective mode ultrasonic touch sensitive switch comprising:
a substrate having first and second opposed parallel surfaces, said first surface having a touch region thereon;
a piezoelectric element having first and second generally planar and parallel opposed surfaces and an electrode on each of said piezoelectric element surfaces, said piezoelectric element being secured in parallel relation to said substrate second surface across said substrate from said touch region;
drive means coupled to said electrodes for applying a drive signal to said electrodes;
detection means coupled to said electrodes for providing a detection signal derived from said drive signal; and
discriminating means coupled to receive said detection signal from said detection means for evaluating said detection signal and providing an output signal indicative of a finger touch to said touch region. - The switch according to claim 1 further characterized wherein said piezoelectric element comprises piezoelectric polymer film.
- The switch according to claim 1 further characterized wherein said discriminating means responds to the level of said demodulated amplitude modulated signal being below a predetermined threshold value for providing said output signal.
- The switch according to claim 1 further characterized wherein said drive means coupled to said electrodes applies a frequency modulated drive signal to said electrodes, the center frequency of said frequency modulated drive signal being a frequency where the impedance-frequency curve of the assembly of said piezoelectric element together with said substrate exhibits a positive slope.
- The switch according to claim 1 further characterized wherein said drive means comprises:
a voltage controlled oscillator having an input and an output;
a modulation signal source having an output coupled to said oscillator input; and
means for coupling said oscillator output to said electrodes. - A reflective mode ultrasonic touch sensitive switch comprising:
a substrate having first and second opposed parallel surfaces, said first surface having a touch region thereon;
a first piezoelectric element having first and second generally planar and parallel opposed surfaces and an electrode on each of said first piezoelectric element surfaces, said first piezoelectric element being secured to said substrate second surface with one of said electrodes in contact with or bonded to said substrate second surface across said substrate from said touch region;
a second piezoelectric element having first and second generally planar and parallel opposed surfaces and an electrode on each of said second piezoelectric element surfaces, said second piezoelectric element being secured to said piezoelectric element with one of said second piezoelectric element electrodes in contact with or bonded to the other of said first piezoelectric element electrodes;
drive means coupled to said first piezoelectric element electrodes for applying a drive signal to said first piezoelectric element electrodes;
detection means coupled to said second piezoelectric element electrodes for providing a sensing signal; and
discriminating means coupled to receive said sensing signal from said detection means for evaluating said sensing signal and providing an output signal indicative of a finger touch to said touch region. - The switch according to claim 1 wherein said first and second piezoelectric elements each comprises piezoelectric polymer film.
- The switch according to claim 1 wherein said discriminating means responds to the level of said sensing signal being below a predetermined threshold value for providing said output signal.
- The switch according to claim 1 wherein:
said drive means provides a frequency modulated drive signal having a center frequency being a frequency close to a resonant frequency of the assembly of said substrate and said first and second piezoelectric elements, the modulation of said drive signal being a fixed frequency of sufficient value to insure that said drive signal has a frequency component equal to said resonant frequency; and said detection means includes a peak detector.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US22007094A | 1994-03-30 | 1994-03-30 | |
US22006694A | 1994-03-30 | 1994-03-30 | |
US220070 | 1994-03-30 | ||
US220066 | 1994-03-30 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP0675600A1 true EP0675600A1 (en) | 1995-10-04 |
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ID=26914538
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP95301025A Withdrawn EP0675600A1 (en) | 1994-03-30 | 1995-02-17 | Reflective mode ultrasonic touch sensitive switch |
Country Status (5)
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US (1) | US5673041A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0675600A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH07282699A (en) |
KR (1) | KR100363279B1 (en) |
TW (1) | TW241352B (en) |
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DE10342006B4 (en) * | 2003-09-04 | 2006-05-04 | E.G.O. Elektro-Gerätebau GmbH | operating device |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR100363279B1 (en) | 2003-02-05 |
TW241352B (en) | 1995-02-21 |
JPH07282699A (en) | 1995-10-27 |
US5673041A (en) | 1997-09-30 |
KR950033783A (en) | 1995-12-26 |
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